GREEN ISLAND -- An Albany County sheriff's clerk involved with Little League was arrested Tuesday after police discovered he had hacked into e-mail accounts and concealed, on his job application, his conviction for sexual contact with a minor.

William Lofink Jr., 42, of Arch Street, Green Island, was charged with felony counts of forgery and offering a false instrument for filing, and misdemeanor counts of offering a false sworn statement and computer tampering. He was arraigned in Green Island Town Court and released on $3,000 bail.

The investigation also revealed allegations that Lofink altered his Navy discharge form when he applied for his Albany County job to conceal a 1992 conviction and prison sentence for sexual contact with a minor. An authentic discharge form, which is known as a DD-214, was discovered on Lofink's work computer along with an allegedly forged version of the document that hid details of Lofink's court martial for sexual contact with a 12-year-old boy at a New York naval base, officials said.

The investigation of Lofink, who held volunteer positions with Green Island Little League and other area youth sports organizations, began when sheriff's officials received complaints Lofink had hacked into e-mail accounts related to the youth baseball league. Lofink allegedly admitted to investigators that he hacked into the e-mail accounts after a falling-out with league officials and because he wanted to delete records unfavorable to his reputation.

In a statement attributed to him by sheriff's investigators, and dated last Friday, Lofink said he accessed the e-mail accounts by altering passwords and answering security questions that he knew how to answer.

Investigators said Lofink told them he deleted numerous league files because he was concerned "anyone may have provided not so favorable references about me during my quest to join their leagues."

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But the investigation intensified when police discovered the forged military record on Lofink's work computer, which he had used to apply for his job two years ago. Lofink agreed to turn over his private computers to investigators on Friday.

On Tuesday, sheriff's investigators re-interviewed Lofink about his criminal background in the military. Records show Lofink, a civilian clerk, allegedly admitted that he downloaded photographs of child pornography from the Internet to his home computers. They said he also admitted visiting Internet chat rooms where "people chat about sex and stuff with young boys," according to a statement attributed to Lofink by investigators.

Lofink told investigators he "wiped my computer clean" the night he hacked into the league's e-mail account last month. He said that in doing so he also deleted "at least 500 images of child pornography," according to his statement.

"I have struggled with child pornography for about five to seven years," Lofink told investigators. "I don't know what drew it to me, more or less I think I was drawn to child porn because I didn't have luck with people my own age or people my own age aren't doing the right things sexually for me. ... I have not acted on any urge with any child I have coached or been mentor to."

Lofink is not married, has no children and lives with his mother, investigators said.

According to military records Lofink was court-martialed in 1992 and sentenced to 14 months in prison. The charges involved his contact with a 12-year-old boy at New York Naval Station housing quarters. Lofink, who watched adult-themed movies and had sexual contact with the boy, later appealed his conviction but it was denied, records show.

Albany County Undersheriff Craig Apple said early last year the sheriff's department tightened its procedures for conducting background checks on prospective employees. He said military records are now verified with government agencies.

It's unclear whether Lofink underwent a background check as part of his youth coaching duties.

Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com